(Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds or its characters)

Oh look, I'm behind again! Hopefully you're seeing this Friday. It's currently Thursday and I've written nothing. Better stop talking and start writing the story.

Please leave a review to let me know your thoughts. You guys did great last week, I loved reading everyone's reviews.

Enjoy.

Spencer woke up, and for the first time in several days he didn't feel like he was dying. He didn't feel anything really. He felt floaty, like he was bobbing in a sea of warm water and pain medication.

He opened his eyes a little and shut them again, the gentle lights too much for him to handle. He slowly felt like coming back to himself, the clouds of sleep passing by.

Spencer wasn't sure how long he lay there, his eyes closed as he breathed without trouble for the first time in days. He could hear something beeping close by but his head still felt stuffy and he was more tired than he normally was when waking up.

He thought of his leg and he stiffened up a little. He remembered the pain and the horrific state he'd left his leg in. The thought brought with it an unpleasant feeling in Spencer's gut, like he was forgetting something worrying. And something very wrong.

Spencer heard something other than the beeping and he tried to pull his eyes open again. The action was harder than he thought it would be and Spencer felt the urge to sleep again.

Spencer heard his name and for a brief moment he saw someone hovering over him. The face looked familiar. They called for him again but Spencer was too tired to reply and as his eyes closed he fell into unconsciousness.

"Did he say anything?"

David Rossi shook his head at his unit chief who dropped his head into his hands. After he'd left Spencer's room and joined his team in the cafeteria he'd shared that their youngest team member had woken up for the briefest of moments. Since then Dave had barely a moment to breath with all the questions being thrown his way.

"Like I said, he moved and opened his one eye just slightly and then he fell asleep again. I only noticed when he tensed and no more than ten seconds later he was unconscious again," Dave said, watching as his team's expressions fell. JJ pushed away her chicken wrap, picking up her water bottle instead. She took a sip and left it uncapped, fiddling anxiously with the cap.

Derek took a bite out of his sandwich and sat back, chewing thoughtfully. "At least he's breathing on his own now," he said between bites.

They all tried to continue eating, except JJ who pushed her food away and played with her water bottle until she'd emptied it.

Morgan was starting on Aaron's second sandwich which he'd been two anxious to eat when somebody walked into the cafeteria.

Aaron stood when he saw Spencer's doctor in the doorway. The doctor saw them and started walking over.

"Oh god," JJ mumbled, her hands going up to clutch her face.

Doctor Lawrence joined them and he looked back at Aaron who was stood with an intimidating frown on his brow.

"I thought I'd find you here," he said.

"What's wrong?" Morgan asked after swallowing his bite. He dropped the sandwich to give the doctor his full attention.

"I assume you're 'Hotch'," Lawrence said, motioning to Aaron who nodded.

"Yes. And I'm his next of kin."

"Brother. Yes, you mentioned."

Aaron unfolded one hand to rub anxiously at his jaw. "Is there something wrong," he asked and the doctor smiled and shook his head.

"Not that I know of. Spencer is awake," he said and a wave of relief went through the team. "And he's asking for you."

Aaron immediately stepped forward. The doctors smiled again. "I'll take you to him."

Before Aaron hurried away Morgan grabbed his arm and turned him around, giving him a serious look.

"What?"

"Are you going to tell him?" Morgan asked. His face was grave. Aaron pulled his arm away but paused thoughtfully.

"Mr. Hotchner?"

Aaron glanced at the doctor and nodded. "One moment." He looked back at Derek. "Not yet," he said. "When he's had more rest."

Derek nodded slowly. "Alright." He looked down dejectedly at his sandwich and remembered something. "Tell him... that I'm sorry."

Aaron nodded. He knew Morgan wasn't as sorry as him. Aaron wasn't sure if he could even forgive himself.

Spencer looked up groggily at Aaron who moved quickly into the room. Aaron nearly fell into the bed as he moved toward Spencer, his feet suddenly heavy.

"Spen-"

"Where?" Spencer croaked, looking imploringly at Aaron. Aaron felt his relief halt for a moment.

He reached down and patted Spencer's hand as the young man swallowed hard and fast, trying to produce words his throat was too sore to let loose.

"Slowly, Myles. Take your time," Aaron said and Spencer paused to scowl at him.

"Spencer," he said, the words scratchy but firm. Aaron nodded quickly.

"Sorry... sorry, Spencer."

"Where's he?" Spencer asked. He swallowed again, wincing when the action irritated his throat.

Aaron didn't need to ask who. He knew. Morgan hadn't run through the possibility of Spencer asking the very thing they hadn't wanted to mention.

Aaron looked down, his hand gently moving into Spencer's and squeezing it.

"A-..." Spencer cleared his throat and groaned. He looked up breathlessly at Aaron. "A'hn."

"The boat was empty, Spencer."

Spencer frowned, the heart monitor beside them beeping faster as Spencer's chest rose and fall erratically. "Don't," he mumbled, his voice not much above a whisper.

"We didn't find him."

"I-I shot him," Spencer rasped. He stared up at Aaron pleadingly who finally looked back at him.

"There was no body, Spencer."

The heart monitor spiked again and Aaron felt Spencer's hand tighten in his. "No."

Thanks for reading.

Like I said, I'm really hoping you got this on Friday.

It'll probably be a shorter chapter since I'm a little busy. Way too short I know. I will explain everything I missed next chapter. Several hours have passed in this chapter since the last. I promise it'll be clear in the next update.

See you soon. It may not be next Friday. This next week will be my final week of university so no updates I'm afraid.